We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

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Indigenous Education and Cultural Services Events and Workshops

Indigenous Education and Cultural Services hosts regular events, including Sweat Lodges, cultural workshops, and guest speakers. In addition to these events, we also host workshops and provide class presentations that introduce attendees to the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada, such as residential schools, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and how these continue to impact Indigenous peoples today.

One-on-one support is available for students who wish to learn more about Indigenous cultures from the Traditional Knowledge Keeper, and/or the Indigenous Cultural Advisor, as well as student mental health counselling from an Indigenous cultural approach.

Bannock and Books

Join us for Bannock and Books, an Indigenous book club series designed to bring hearts and minds together as we explore various topics pertaining to Indigenous culture, ways of knowing and experiences. You’ll have some time to independently read the book and then we will meet for a Sharing Circle to explore and discuss learnings.

Stay tuned for the next instalment of the Bannock and Books series!

For more resources to enhance your understanding, check out the curated collection of books on missing and murdered Indigenous women, children, and two-spirited individuals.

Orange Shirt Day

The event is held annually on September 30. View submissions from previous events on the Orange Shirt Day Padlet.

All staff, faculty and students are invited to participate in Orange Shirt Day, everyone is invited to wear an orange shirt and a picture will be taken of attendees to commemorate the day's events. Orange Shirt Day is a project designed to educate people and promote awareness about the Indian Residential School system and the impact this system had for more than a century on Indigenous peoples’.

Visiting Elder Program

Twice per year, we host a Visiting Elder Program to provide the university with an opportunity to learn from an Indigenous Elder. Elders are important members of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit communities and are recognized for their knowledge, experience, wisdom, harmony and balance.

From Contact 'Til Now

From Contact 'Til Now is an interactive session facilitated by the Indigenous Education and Cultural Services team that will provide participants with an experiential learning opportunity designed to strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the history of colonization and how it has affected and continues to affect Indigenous peoples today. This presentation will include a smudging ceremony during the session. A debrief about the exercise will follow to explain its importance and relevance.

Mini Pow Wow

In the first week of the fall semester, community members are invited to the annual Mini Pow Wow in Polonsky Commons. A Pow Wow is a celebration that showcases Indigenous music, dances, traditional regalia, food, crafts, and culture.

Please note: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, our Pow Wows are not currently running in September. We will monitor the situation and hope to be up and running when health guidelines permit.